Recognizing The Symptoms of Prostate Cancer

Symptoms of prostate cancer surface in some men only in the advanced stages of the illness. This is mainly because the tumors responsible for prostate cancer grow gradually. That is why it is sometimes referred to as a silent killer. Rarely do these tumors spread so fast that the cancer cells attack the bones. Patients with fast growing tumors complain about backaches and pain on the hips or pelvis. Prostate cancer in its acute stage starts affecting the functioning of other organs in the patient's body, especially the urinary system. Such an ill fated person often experiences painful orgasm and release of semen, loss of weight, presence of blood in the urine, and difficulty to pass urine with no urine at all or a feeble flow. The patient may also have a tendency to pass urine at night and uncontrolled flow of urine even after urination.

As it is difficult to identify the symptoms of prostate cancer from other life threatening diseases relating to the prostate, it is always advisable to undergo a medical examination and clinical tests for detecting the presence of tumors. Digital rectal examination, PSA test and other clinical tests to verify the general condition of the prostate are ideal to detect symptoms of prostate cancer at the early stages.

Medical Tests To Confirm Symptoms Of Prostate Cancer

A patient with the symptoms of prostate cancer is often advised to undergo clinical laboratory tests to confirm malignancy. Prostate specific antigen (PSA) tests and digital rectal examinations are conducted on patients to detect the presence of cancerous tumors in the prostate gland. The prognosis of prostate cancer is monitored by the conduct of transurethral ultrasound and prostate biopsy.

The level of prostate specific antigens secreted by the prostate gland is monitored in a PSA test. This is done by verifying a patient's blood sample. If the antigen level is high, it generally denotes a prostate gland disorder which may be a simple enlargement, infection or in the worst case, cancer. A digital rectal examination is conducted on a patient with symptoms of prostate cancer to confirm the presence of any malignant tumors. This examination is conducted by a qualified medical practitioner by inserting his gloved and lubricated index finger into the rectum of the patient. By probing the prostate gland physically, the doctor will be able to confirm if the patient's prostate gland is in its normal condition. If there any abnormalities or changes in the normal size or shape of the prostate gland, the patient will have to undergo other clinical tests to confirm malignancy.

Since in some cases the symptoms of prostate cancer do not become obvious till its advanced stage, it is advisable for every man to undergo a PSA or DRE test on a yearly basis. These examinations are a must in the case of men with a high genetic disposition to prostate illnesses.

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